Fantasy

The greatest trilogy in the history of cinema comes to an epic conclusion in this, the crown jewel of all Fantasy. Can Frodo persevere in his quest to destroy the Ring of Power, or will he fall prey to Gollum or even the darkness within himself?

Splendorous first entry in the Lord of the Rings saga. The evil Sauron plots to conquer the realm of Middle-Earth, while a fragile band of heroes unite in a desperate bid to destroy the Ring of Power which is the key to the fates of all who live.

Enter: Gollum. Includes one of the greatest castle sieges ever filmed.

The Matter of Britain may be the greatest legend of all time, and this is perhaps the finest cinematic treatment that legend has thus far received. Exciting, majestic, and generally faithful to the original tales, Excalibur is grand fantasy.

Arnold Schwarzenegger is a masterful embodiment of Robert E. Howard's iconic Fantasy hero. Bloody, violent, and grim, this is the film that started the Sword & Sorcery craze of the 1980s.

C.S. Lewis's classic children's novel makes the jump to the big screen in this lavish, beautiful adaptation. The inherent Christian message shines throughout and there are a number of superb performances, including Liam Neeson as the voice of Aslan. Perfect for kids of all ages.

Is there a better source for high Fantasy than Greek mythology? Epic adventure blessed with great special effects and ferocious action. The well-written script conveys a strong pro-faith message as well.

Inspiring high fantasy in the Star Wars vein, courtesy of George Lucas (of course).

Brutal, edgy, and highly stylized action. Surreal and unforgettable.

Like Willow, this is an extremely inspiring family-friendly film with outstanding special effects, engaging characters, and a great moral center.

Rivaling Excalibur as the best Arthurian film yet produced, this is classic epic filmmaking at its best. Robert Taylor is supreme as Lancelot and Ava Gardner is delectable as Guenevere, the forbidden object of his affections. Not nearly as bloody as Excalibur, but the action scenes are still effective with several fine sword fights. The inherent Christian morality from the writings of Sir Thomas Malory comes through as well, as opposed to many more recent adaptations which opt for Political Correctness instead. Sadly, they don't make them like this anymore.

The remake isn't bad, but the original still takes the prize. Tremendous stop-motion effects make the numerous Titans in all their monstrous glory very believable. A bit slow at times, but all the same fabulous entertainment.

Underrated epic fantasy with Kevin Sorbo in top form as a barbarian who becomes King of Velusia and inherits a host of enemies to go along with it, not the least of which is the diabolic Akivasha, played to the hilt by the spectacular Tia Carrere. Lots of action combined with a keen sense of fun culminating in a fantastic climax.

High adventure in the East courtesy of Sinbad. Black magic and nonstop swashbuckling adventure, all of which is greatly enhanced by the beautiful presence of the luminous Caroline Munro.

Not nearly as good as the original Conan the Barbarian, but still very entertaining.

The best film version of the Beowulf legend so far, albeit a rather unconventional one.

Fine story of a knight and the woman he loves, living in the shadow of a curse designed to keep them apart forever. Rutger Hauer is a strong presence and Michelle Pfeiffer is almost unbearably lovely. Soundtrack is a bit anachronistic, but it grows on you after a while. Rich, glorious medieval adventure with a heavy dose of high romance.

Cyclops, dragons, and evil wizards threaten Sinbad at every turn. Outstanding effects and a clever script brought to life by a strong cast.

A bit darker than The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe, and the religous message is somewhat minimized, but still great entertainment with an uplifting core.

Creative, ambitious film from the 80s. Combines elements of fantasy and science fiction to great effect.

Likeable story of a young man's quest to track down his father's killer. FX aren't always first-class but the film's enthusiasm and sense of wonder allows it to rise above any other weakness. Solid cast featuring the beautiful fire-haired Tanya Roberts.

Less exciting and action-packed than the other two entries in the film series, but thoughtful and good-intentioned. Lots of valuable insights into the nature of good and evil and learning to value oneself.

Would have been a lot better with a bigger budget, but even so this is a much better film than its often given credit for. Brigitte Nielsen is great as the eponymous warrior-woman with a vendetta against the dark queen who left her for dead. Arnold Schwarzenegger adds his inimitable presence and there's lots of excellent swordplay. More in the vein of Kull the Conqueror than Conan the Barbarian, but the humor never ruins the story.

Richard Moll stars as the monstrous Sorcerer from the title, brought back to life by an evil tyrant looking for conquest. At times a little darker than some of the other films on the list, but never loses its sense of adventure.

Enchanting fairy tale...can the lovely Mia Sara resist the temptations of Darkness with the fate of the last unicorns at stake? Good early vehicle for Tom Cruise. Tim Curry delivers a bravura performance while showcasing one of the truly great makeup sets in movie history. Deserves a bigger audience than it has received.